Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a psalm of wisdom. This triumphant hymn tells of the greatness of our almighty King, everyone should give glory, honour and praises to this heavenly King. A wonderful hymn everyone should learn to sing and play.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall, Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, And crown Him Lord of all.
Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe, On this terrestrial ball, On this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, And crown Him Lord of all.
O that with yonder sacred throng We at His feet may fall, We at His feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, And crown Him Lord of all.
What is important to us in life? Our family, our work, or the pleasure of this world? As the followers and believers of our Lord Jesus, we have learnt to put aside matters of this world, pursue spiritual growth and walk with God. Jesus should be the first in our life. Whatever we say, whatever we do, whatever we face in life, by day and by night – We trust in Jesus’ love and power. Always putting Jesus first in our life.
The world all about me has now no allure: Its pleasures bring pain, Its wisdom is vain; I seek a foundation that’s steadfast and sure: I’ll put Jesus first in my life. In all that I say, In all that I do, Throughout the world of toil and strife, By day and by night, Through trust in His might, I’ll put Jesus first in my life.
The Lord Jesus died my salvation to win: He went in my stead To Calv’ry and bled; Redemption impels me to give up all sin: I’ll put Jesus first in my life. In all that I say, In all that I do, Throughout the world of toil and strife, By day and by night, Through trust in His might, I’ll put Jesus first in my life.
I know there’s a home for the ransomed and blest, When death is no more, When struggle is o’er, For those who love Jesus and give Him their best: I’ll put Jesus first in my life. In all that I say, In all that I do, Throughout the world of toil and strife, By day and by night, Through trust in His might, I’ll put Jesus first in my life.
Though earth’s tribulations continue each day, Though pleasures may call, Though evil enthrall, His grace will protect me forever and aye: I’ll put Jesus first in my life. In all that I say, In all that I do, Throughout the world of toil and strife, By day and by night, Through trust in His might, I’ll put Jesus first in my life.
Hymn 324 Blessed Redeemer by Harry D. Loes. The first time in this Playing Hymns Made Really Easy tutorial series that we have hymn that is in a 9/8 time-signature. Not too difficult to learn, jsut getting use to counting in nine quavers each bar. This hymn reminds us of our Lord Jesus who had died on the cross to save us, redeem us with His precious blood so that we remember His great salvation grace and use our tongues on singing praises to Him forever.
Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn, Walked Christ my Saviour, weary and worn; Facing for sinners death on the cross, That He might save them from endless loss. Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer! Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree; Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading, Blind and unheeding— dying for me!
“Father forgive them!” thus did He pray, E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away; Praying for sinners while in such woe— No one but Jesus ever loved so. Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer! Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree; Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading, Blind and unheeding— dying for me!
O how I love Him, Saviour and Friend, How can my praises ever find end! Thro’ years unnumbered on heaven’s shore, My tongue shall praise Him forevermore. Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer! Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree; Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading, Blind and unheeding— dying for me!
Today, we will continue where we left off in making piano accompaniment for choir.
The new pattern we are looking at today in Ab major, chord I, Ab C Eb, left-hand plays an octave Ab and right-hand plays chords, crotchet and quaver. A little emphasis on the crotchet and a bounce for the quaver.
Incorporating this pattern into hymn no. 112, the first line will be like this:
When we arrive half way through 3rd, here, the harmonies change every beat, so we will opt for single quaver chord and resume back to the former pattern midway 4th bar and thereafter.
Second line, same again,
changes every beat in half way through 3rd bar till the end of 4th bar.
Line 3 chorus, remember when this tutorial series started, we use a bass note and chords on the left hand to accompany the right-hand melody?
Bar 9 > Same idea, if the choir can stay in tune and in time, take out the melody, left-hand plays the octave bass and right-hand plays the chords like this:
Bar 10 > there are 2 chords, so back to crotchets.
Bar 11 > also has 2 chords, we could carry on with crotchets as a choice.
However, if we look at the melody, each note is repeated 3 times, we can try vary the pattern. Play together with the first note, allow the remaining 2 repeated notes to carry on, and fill the remaining quaver space with a chord. This will create movement and feel of moving forward onto the next beat.
Bar 4 > same again, we could use what we have done on the first bar.
Quite often if the line finishes on chord V and the next line starts on chord I, we can link a descending scale from V to I. The left-hand can first play a minim follows by 4 quavers,
or a minim tied to a quaver follows by 3 more quavers may be more effective.
The whole of line 3 will now looks like
Line 4, we can do the same as line 3 for the first 2 bars. As there are more changes in harmonies towards the concluding 2 bars, we will revert into using what we did on line 2. The whole line will now be
After going through what we can do to each line, the arrangement will be like this:
All creatures on earth praise the Lord, for our Lord God is almighty. This hymn describes how everything He has created sing praises to the everlasting omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience God. Every time when we pray, we should give thanks, praises and honour to our Lord.
This is my Father’s world, And to my list’ning ears, All nature sings and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world, The birds their carols raise; The morning light, the lily white Declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me ev’rywhere.
This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world, The battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.
Jesus’ precious blood has the power to free us from the bondage of sin. His blood has the power to sancitify our body and soul. His blood has the power to cleanse us so that our white robe can be whiter than snow. All these enable us to see our Lord Jesus when He comes again to collect us into His eternal heavenly kingdom. Isn’t this the wonderful and amazing love our Lord Jesus has shown to us?
Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Would you o’er evil a victory win? There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood. There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the blood of the Lamb; There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s flow; There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood. There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the blood of the Lamb; There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be free from your passion and pride? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Body and soul to the Lord sanctified; There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood. There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the blood of the Lamb; There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you see Jesus the heavenly King? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Flesh into spirit His praises to sing; There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood. There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the blood of the Lamb; There is pow’r, pow’r, Wonderworking pow’r In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Today, we will switch our attention to piano accompaniment for choir.
The BBC’s Songs of Praise which started in 1961, is still airing on every Sunday, features hymns, Christian music and stories around different locations in the country. I one episode many years ago, I saw a group of men gathered by a grand piano relaxingly singing hymn 112 “Follow On”, the accompaniment is like this
Personally, I feel that we can incorporate this style for choir presentation, certain hymns that are joyous and relax can adopt this idea. Now, let us take a look into how to implement this to a hymn.
In previous videos, we have mentioned that majority of the hymns will use primary chords of I, IV and V. In Ab major, these will be
For this style in Ab major, chord I, Ab C Eb, the right-hand plays a three notes chord, left-hand plays an octave Ab and alternates with the fifth note Eb. Slot the right-hand chord between each of the left-hand notes.
Now, let’s try playing chord I, then the pattern. Chord IV, the pattern. Chord V, the pattern. Now the three together, chords, I , IV, V one after the other.
Now, if we simplify the harmonies of this hymn, the first half of each line always starts with chord I, then IV, then back to I. The harmonies of the 2nd phrase in line 1 and line 3 are the same, chord V, I, and and V. Whereas the harmonies of the 2nd phrase in line 2 and line 4 are identical, chords IV, I, IV, I, V, and back to I.
Incorporating this patterns, the first line will be like this
Second line like this
If We go a step further; we can have an upgraded version with a little more advance harmonies for the accompaniment. For example:
1st bar > 4th beat is still chord I but with C in the bass instead, C is the middle note of the chord, in music theory, usually we are only allowed to use C once within a chord, therefore we need to omit the C on the right and replace it with an E. The chord will blend better.
3rd bar > the last quaver Db is the 7th of the fifth chord (dominant seventh) which in this case helps to link the next three notes C Bb Ab to create a descending scale, so we can use the Db on the 4th beat.
4th bar > C in the bass, as the example in bar 1, change the right-hand chord, omitting the C. Then on the 2nd beat, Bb as a passing note follows by Ab. You can check on the attached file later for the remaining lines.
After going through what we can do for this hymn, let us hear how this will sound. I have generated a MP3 file. Starts off with the basic version, choir singing the chorus in, straight in with the upgraded version, with brothers singing the verse, concluding with traditional 4 parts chorus. See whether you can hear the difference (scroll the video forward to 6:28 to see the play along).
Hymn 239 Abide with Me by William H. Monk. Another well known classic hymn many of us are familiar with. This hymn tells us who God is. He helps the helpless and He does not change. He is our guide and our strength. His grace and protection is always surrounding us till the day we depart from this world.
This really easy piano arrangement explores the use of left hand octave eight notes from low C to middle C. I hope everyone learning this hymn will find it interesting to be able to play a larger compass of notes for the left hand.
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour; What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
I Love to Tell the Story, a well known hymn classic by William G. Fischer. The greatest story telling how our heavenly Father sent His beloved son Jesus in flesh to undo the ties of sin for mankind. With repentance, we can return and restore our relationship with God through water baptism and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. Finally it tells us that Jesus will come again to gather us to the prepared heavenly eternal home. We therefore must spread to the world about this wonderful story, of Jesus and His great love.
I love to tell the story Of unseen things above, How came the Lord from heaven And showed the Father’s love? I love to tell the story, Because I know it’s true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do. I love to tell the story; ’Twill be my theme in glory To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; The ties of sin undo; How can this living water And Spirit make anew? I love to tell the story, Because His word is true; Bear witness to the nations, With courage now pursue. I love to tell the story; ’Twill be my theme in glory To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; The Lord will come again; How can I do His favour And live in His domain? I love to tell the story, Because His gift is true; Complete this blessed journey To see His glory too. I love to tell the story; ’Twill be my theme in glory To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.
Fairest Lord Jesus, hymn 21 from “Schlesische Volkslieder” arranged by Richard S. Willis. Our Lord Jesus is the Ruler of all nature. Believing in Jesus is the best thing in this world. What can be better than the almighty Lord Jesus guiding and protecting us everyday of our life on earth. Came to this world, humble Himself and laid down His own life to save and redeem mankind. How can we forget this wonderful and amazing grace? This hymn is gentle, yet carries a sense of solemn and seriousness.
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, O Thou of God and man the Son; Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.
Fair are the meadows, Fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the blooming garb of spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fairer still the moonlight And all the twinkling, starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels heav’n can boast.
Beautiful Saviour, Lord of all nations, Son of God and Son of man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and forevermore be Thine!
Hosanna Praise 